Brussels Airport Reports 3.6% Passenger Growth in Strong First Half

Brussels Airport recorded a solid first half of 2026, handling 11,684,976 passengers — a 3.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025 — while cargo volumes surged 8.3% to nearly 420,000 tonnes, according to figures released by the airport operator on Wednesday.

The results, published by Brussels Airport, underscore the continued recovery of Belgium’s main international gateway, though passenger numbers remain slightly below the pre-pandemic record of 12.3 million set in the first half of 2019.

Network Expansion Drives Growth

Eight new destinations were launched during the first six months of the year, including five long-haul routes that significantly strengthened the airport’s global connectivity. Air China inaugurated a new service to Chengdu, while LATAM launched the first direct connection between Belgium and South America in more than 25 years with flights to São Paulo. Brussels Airlines also began operating a new route to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

As RTBF reported, the increase is partly explained by these new destinations served from Zaventem since January. The airport now offers connections to 205 destinations worldwide, operated by 83 airlines.

External Challenges

The growth was achieved despite significant headwinds. The conflict in the Middle East led to the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and reduced frequencies to Gulf destinations, affecting both passenger numbers and belly cargo operations.

Labour disruptions also took a toll. Two national union action days in March and May together impacted approximately 55,000 passengers. A spontaneous strike by air traffic control provider skeyes on 2 June forced the cancellation of all scheduled flights that day, affecting a further 25,000 travellers.

Cargo Performance Outpaces Passenger Growth

Cargo operations delivered particularly strong results, with total volumes reaching nearly 420,000 tonnes in the first half. The full freighter segment grew 16.7%, while trucked cargo increased 16.2%. Brussels Airport’s position as Europe’s leading pharmaceutical cargo hub continues to underpin this performance.

According to TravelWires, the airport’s cargo performance was strong across multiple segments, with total flown cargo rising 7% and belly cargo remaining broadly flat due to the Middle East route suspensions.

June Highlights

June alone saw 2,215,965 passengers pass through the airport, up 1.7% year-on-year. The month was supported by the resumption of flights to Doha from 15 June and the return to normal frequencies to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. New connections launched in June included São Paulo, Kilimanjaro, and Halifax, along with new TUI fly flights to Kayseri in Turkey and increased Air Transat frequencies to Montréal.

The ten most popular destination countries in June were Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, France, the United States, and Switzerland. Transfer passengers accounted for 15% of departing traffic, an increase compared to June 2025, mainly towards Europe, Africa, and North America.

June cargo volumes reached 70,895 tonnes, up 12.2%, driven by a 16.5% jump in full freighter volumes and a remarkable 42.4% surge in trucked cargo.

Economic Significance and Outlook

Brussels Airport is described as the second most important economic engine in Belgium, supporting 64,000 direct and indirect jobs. The airport is operating under its SHIFT 2027 strategy, which aims to strengthen its position as a major European hub and accelerate sustainability goals through initiatives such as the European Green Deal’s Stargate project.

Looking ahead, the airport expects 5.2 million passengers during the summer holiday period, with a 4% increase in summer traffic anticipated. However, questions remain over whether passenger numbers will fully recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2026 or 2027, and how a proposed Belgian tax on airline tickets could impact future growth.

Brussels Airport handled 11.7 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up 3.6% year-on-year. (Photo: David Plas / Brussels Airport Press Office)

Infographic showing Brussels Airport’s June 2026 passenger and cargo traffic figures. (Credit: Brussels Airport Press Office)